Soul-searching begins after World Cup fiasco

The working committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) meets in Mumbai on April 6 and 7 to take stock of India’s World Cup performance.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said the board would examine the tour manager’s report and hear out captain Rahul Dravid and coach Greg Chappell. “We are very disappointed,” said Shah, “but we will listen with an open mind.”

He said that while lots of rumours were doing the rounds (that Yuvraj Singh or Sachin Tendulkar would be appointed captain, that there would be a purge of seniors), “nothing” had happened. “There will not be any knee-jerk reaction. We cannot run cricket like that.”

A purge is unlikely. Not just because it would be an overreaction or that these are India’s best players but also because with major tours ahead (England, Pakistan at home and Australia), experience will be needed.

BCCI president Sharad Pawar told NDTV that BCCI had invited former India captains too on April 6 to suggest ways to improve the system. Many players, including former India captains Ajit Wadekar and Nari Contractor, blamed a systemic failure.